Budapest Transport Tickets
Public transport in Budapest is somewhat expensive. A single ticket is pricier than in other European cities like Madrid or Barcelona and is not very flexible.
We recommend getting a travel card if you plan to use any of the city’s main transportation: the Budapest Metro, the tram system or urban buses.
Note that a one-way ticket is only valid for an interrupted ride, so if you want to change metro lines, you should buy a "transfer ticket" before doing so.
| Single ticket | 350 Ft (US$ 0.90) |
|---|---|
| 10 Journey ticket | 3 Ft (US$ 0) |
| Short section metro ticket | 300 Ft (US$ 0.77) (up to three stops) |
| Transfer ticket | 530 Ft (US$ 1.36) |
| 24-hour travel card | 1.65 Ft (US$ 0) |
| 72-hour travel card | 4.15 Ft (US$ 0.01) |
| 7-day travel card | 4.95 Ft (US$ 0.01) |
There are many ticket collectors in Budapest’s public transport systems, especially in the metro, so make sure to buy a transport ticket before using any means of transportation. The fines can be up to 16,000 Ft (US$ 41.18).
Single tickets or a travel card?
Unless you want to explore Budapest by foot, we recommend purchasing a 24h-travel card, 72-h pass, or a 7-day travel card, depending on how long you're in Budapest, instead of getting a single ticket each time.
These are some of the advantages of buying a travel card instead of one-journey tickets:
- You won’t waste time buying tickets every time you use the public transport system.
- You won’t have to remember to validate your ticket.
- You can use any means of transportation and as many times as you need per day.
- You'll avoid possible penalty fares.
Another advantage is that you can use your travel pass to get from Budapest Airport to the city center if you buy the travel pass in one of the terminals.
3-day travel card or the Budapest Card?
If you want to visit several of Budapest’s museums and landmarks or if you’re traveling with children less than 14 years old, we recommend you check out the Budapest Card. It includes free public transport and discounts for most museums, spas and monuments.
Where to buy the transport tickets?
Tickets are available either at the Airport, the various metro stations, tobacconists, news-stands, and from the transport inspectors.
